Tottenham Hotspur -

Wed Dec 19 - 19:45

WHAT HAPPENED

We were twice undone by long balls over the top - once in each half - on a night where Tottenham's clinical finishing proved the difference.

We hit the woodwork three times, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan spurned a good early chance, on a frustrating evening at Emirates Stadium.

The team had made a bright start with Alex Iwobi and Aaron Ramsey looking to run at the visiting defence.

We had the best chance of the opening 15 minutes too, and should really have taken the lead. Mkhitaryan raced clear into the box, running on to a Ramsey flick, but fired straight at Paulo Gazzaniga when under little pressure.

We were made to pay shortly afterwards. A long ball over the top was diverted into the path of Heung-Min Son, who finished when one on one with Cech. VAR replays confirmed he was just onside.

Tottenham were looking dangerous when they broke - Sissoko blazed over at the end of one attack - but we had the better chances at the end of the half.

Ramsey volleyed against the near post and Sokratis headed wide from a deep corner, but we couldn't make the pressure tell before the interval.

Unai Emery changed the shape of the team in the second half, bring on Laurent Koscielny as part of a back three.

Granit Xhaka fired a free-kick over the bar but Spurs doubled their lead on the hour. This time Dele Alli was sent through on goal, just onside again, before lifting the ball over Cech.

Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah were summoned from the bench and the former squirmed a shot against the post after good work from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Aubameyang also saw a cross hit the bar but that was as good as it got on a forgettable night at Emirates Stadium.